Sleeping Rough for homelessness

08/10/2014

Learners and staff from Coleg y Cymoedd have voluntarily slept out under the stars to raise a considerable contribution for Shelter Cymru, the Housing and Homelessness charity.

Thirteen learners from the BTEC Level 3 Health and Social Care course and their tutors slept outside on a cold Thursday night to raise money for the charity which acts to target issues with homelessness, a topic that the learners have been studying.

To ensure an authentic experience the group also decided to busk on the steps of the Ystrad Mynach campus to passing students and staff leaving college at the end of the day to try to raise money to be able to have dinner. Profit from this was then also donated to Shelter Cymru.

The Care learners also promoted Shelter Cymru to fellow learners by creating life size posters to display around communal areas of the college depicting homeless people with thought-provoking questions such as “Do you see me?”.

The group’s efforts on the day and in the months leading up to ‘The Big Sleep’ managed to fundraise over £300 to go directly to the charity.

Tutor Kirsten Stevens-Wood said: “This experience was extremely important for the learners as they fully appreciated and empathised with the lifestyle some people are forced to endure. Experiences like this teach our learners far more than can be conveyed in a classroom“.

Learner Alicia Quarterly said: “Although sleeping rough was difficult I’m so glad I got involved, it really opened up my eyes to how difficult daily life can be for some people. I’m really happy we managed to raise so much money for the charity”.

Tutor Karen Stratford-Davies said: “We are very proud of the learners for participating enthusiastically and raising money and awareness for the important cause of homelessness, especially in the approach to the colder weather and Christmas”.